Web-based Pidgin Alternatives

Pidgin is not available as a web app but there are plenty of alternatives that runs in the browser with similar functionality. The best Online alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Element or Matrix. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Pidgin and many of them are available as a web app so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Online alternatives to Pidgin are Trillian, Messenger, Xabber and Subway.

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Alternatives list

  1. Element icon

    Element

     789 likes

    Provides secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption, supporting chat, voice, and video calls. Available on all major platforms, it enables digital sovereignty with a decentralized design and interoperability through bridges to systems like Slack and Teams. Includes enterprise-grade SaaS.

    313 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Snapcraft
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
     
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    1
    Element vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    9

    Pidgin is a universal IM client. Riot is a Matrix client with integrations providing weak bridging for other protocols.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourcePidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Privacy focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  2. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     392 likes

    Open standard protocol enabling decentralized, encrypted instant messaging, VoIP signaling, IoT device connectivity, and persistent data management across federated servers without central control or single points of failure, bridging communication platforms.

    171 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page
     
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    2
    Matrix vs Pidgin Comments
    alttojb
    Positive
    0

    Matrix does allow multi-protocol chat via "bridges". https://matrix.org/bridges/

    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    It's not a universal messaging platform

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Matrix is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Matrix is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  4. Jitsi Desktop icon

    Jitsi Desktop

     488 likes

    Jitsi Desktop (previously SIP Communicator) is a legacy audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption, precedessor of Jitsi Meet .

    77 Jitsi Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Contact list
     
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    3
    Jitsi Desktop vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    It's only focused on video chat, no more Xmpp Support

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Jitsi is now a video-chat only application, with no support for XMPP/Jabber functionality.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    it does not support Jabber/XMPP anymore

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Jitsi Desktop is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jitsi Desktop is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  5. Ad
  6. Trillian icon

    Trillian

     280 likes

    Trillian is an instant messaging app that works on phones, tablets, and desktops while keeping your chats neatly synchronized between all of them! We think conversation should be easily shared between all of your devices, not trapped as text messages on your phone.

    149 Trillian alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Trillian screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Trillian vs Pidgin Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    -17

    Pidgen supports multiple accounts from multiple services, while this is a single service. So instead of allowing you to use all your existing accounts it requires you to use their account. The beauty of Pidgen is that you can connect with your friends using the service they use instead of trying to sell them on the service you want to use.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Trillian is Freemium and ProprietaryPidgin is Free and Open Source
  7. Messenger icon

    Messenger

     231 likes

    Provides comprehensive communication features including group video calls, voice calls, fast messaging, photo sharing, and location mapping. Access through mobile and web platforms with real-time notifications, ensuring seamless interactions using multimedia tools.

    199 Messenger alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Android Auto
    • Android Wear
    Messenger screenshot 1
     
  8. Xabber icon

    Xabber

     53 likes

    Open source Jabber (XMPP) client with multi-account support, clean and simple interface. Being both free (as in freedom!) and ad-free, Xabber is designed to be the best Jabber client for Android .

    128 Xabber alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Xabber screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Xabber vs Pidgin Comments
    Mister Hutchinson
    Negative
    0

    Only XMPP, while Pidgin works with multiple systems and protocols.

    • Xabber is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
  10. Subway icon

    Subway

     5 likes

    Subway is a web-based IRC client with a multi-user backend and a JavaScript-heavy UI. Frontend/backend communication is done with websockets (or best available fallback where not available). The backend supports connection persistence and optional logging when the browser...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Subway screenshot 1
     
  11. Conduit Chat Server icon

    Conduit Chat Server

     7 likes

    Conduit is a simple, fast and reliable chat server powered by Matrix. Conduit is an alternative to Synapse and tries to be lightweight and easy to install, but it is still in development.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Linux
    • Debian
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    Conduit Chat Server screenshot 1
     
  12. Umnico icon

    Umnico

     1 like

    Umnico is the omnichannel messaging solution and the ultimate tool for managing customer communications. With support for over 25 business messengers and social media platforms, all accessible from one central chat-center, you can streamline your customer interactions like never...

    8 Umnico alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Umnico Live Chat
     
  14. Kiwi IRC icon

    Kiwi IRC

     28 likes

    A hand-crafted IRC client that you can enjoy. Designed to be used easily and freely. More friendly than other webirc clients giving the general public an easy option to connect to any IRC network.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    Kiwi IRC screenshot 1
     
  15. Maid-IRC icon

    Maid-IRC

     6 likes

    A modern web IRC client. Built on Node.js.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Node.JS
    Maid-IRC screenshot 1
     
12 of 31 Pidgin alternatives